Tuesday, October 28, 2008

Parish Hands Out Chicken Noodle Soup To Suffering Electorate

St. Rose of Lima Church Ladies Guild is delivering homemade Chicken Noodle Soup to people calling the Church, saying that they are sick of the upcoming election.

"It's a natural extension of St. Matthew's works of mercy, in particular, visiting the sick," said Viola Hartshorne. "I know that if I wasn't chug-a-lugging this soup this week, well, I ... I just feel like I'm about to lose my lunch and my soul in this election."

Such strong sentiments were the rarity, but Fr. Daniel Conlon did say he has been fielding calls of people distraught by spiritual malaise. "There's a darkness out there...and people are struggling with it, and they think they have made headway but then they turn on the TV and see the ads again. The suffering masses need us. And as Christians, we need to be there for them."

This real life "chicken soup for the soul" does stretch the traditional meaning of the works of mercy, but Hartshorne thinks it is merited. "We not only get to visit the sick, we get to feed the hungry, comfort the suffering, and sometimes instruct the ignorant. I know this is necessary work: this election has made me sicker than when I had malaria. This is loving your neighbor as you love yourself, people. The Golden Rule is all about this."

Hartshorne has noted that no politicians have called, however. "I think they're afraid of getting some of that 'admonishing the sinner' action," she said.--I.C.

I'm not sure this election is worth losing good homemade cookies Mightymom, but for that matter, I'm not sure chicken soup is going to cut it. Maybe wine or seriously strong whiskey, followed by a very decadent piece of expensive chocolate, maybe.